This
presentation reviews a wide array of information and skills to help
therapists build resiliency against the potentially detrimental impact
of our work. We as therapists can become so focused on the needs of
those we serve that we forget to take time out for ourselves and find
balance within the workday and our lives. Unlike burnout, the impact of
compassion fatigue can often be subtle and gradual, but the results
just as harmful to our professional and personal lives. Participants
will explore effective strategies for coping with compassion fatigue as
well as for developing professional and personal resilience.

Objectives:

To understand:

the concepts of compassion fatigue and resilience

how to build and maintain resilience

the elements of a self-care lifestyle

how to identify and overcome roadblocks to developing and maintaining resilience

Dan
Totaro has 40 years experience in the chemical dependency and mental
health fields. He holds a Masters Degree and has been licensed as a
Marriage and Family Therapist since 1981. Over his career Dan has been
fortunate to hold a variety of positions within the profession
including: Executive Director of a community-based outpatient program;
Program Director for a hospital based co-occurring disorders treatment
program; private practice Marriage and Family Therapist, and Outreach
Manager for a national chemical dependency treatment provider. Dan has
provided trainings and lectures for: School Counselors, Marriage and
Family Therapists, healthcare professionals, Psychologists,
Psychiatrists, parent groups, medical professionals, lawyers, law
enforcement personnel, and marketing and outreach professionals.

This
program clarified the myriad of conflicting and convoluted issues for
therapists when sexual offending arises in individual, couple, or family
therapy. Using research driven practices, participants increased their
practice skills and knowledge for clinical interventions.

Objectives for the seminar were:

Participants would understand causes of sexual offending and how to assess risk

Participants would gain knowledge of special treatment considerations and the "containment model"

Participants would understand options and how to utilize a decision tree when working with offenders

Garry Raley, LMFT is a California State Certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider with New Day Institute, Riverside.

The CAMFT Chapter Agreement has not been finalized. For more information on this topic or to make a comment, see the forum and news pages in the "Members Only" section of the website.

President's Message

Hello. As your new chapter co-president, I'd like to first of all thank our Past President, Janine Murray, LMFT, for her years at IE- CAMFT, and for fighting for our Chapter and State CAMFT to utilize their efforts on behalf of LMFT's. I know she went 'over and above' to have our CAMFT really represent LMFT's and MFT-I's. I fully respect that many interns and licensed MFT's have chosen other degrees and licenses that allow them to have the flexibility of portability to practice in other states. And, I really also want CAMFT, to be the "California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists" as their Initials indicate - perhaps even one day to see our licenses have portability, as well.

I also have a vision for IE-CAMFT as a stellar chapter to offer the best in speakers, information, and clinical practitioners to share their experience with all of us, including students and interns. It's because of what I've taken advantage of here in this chapter that I'm willing to work and drive about one hour each month to attend our meetings. This vision also includes supporting interns to have wages in their internships that allow them to live. While many of us were of the "tradition" to work for BBS hours without pay, or stipend pay only, we usually have had to have two other part-time jobs to pay our way through the 3000 hours. That doesn't mean the "tradition" has to live on. A graduate degree is worthy of a wage.

Another vision would be that we are willing to take on a student/intern who needs therapy, not just for hours, but to gain insight into their own process in being an intern/student. I'm suggesting each licensed therapist be willing to offer one pro-bono time or a very low sliding scale time, and be willing to advertise that to a school. If we value what we do and how we do it, we should value that student and intern the privilege of "working their own stuff out in the room" that's affordable to them.

I am passionate about many things. This occupation/ministry I've chosen is clearly what I love to do in the world. I look forward to Sherry and I sharing this responsibility to further our chapter, start a 3000 club, widen our catchment area to offer programs to more of our colleagues.